International Labour Conference

112th session (3rd June – 14th June 2024)

General Discussion Committee on Decent Work and the Care Economy

Opening Statement and Discussion point 1

Geneva, 3 June 2023

EU Statement

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The candidate countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Serbia*, Albania*, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, the EFTA country Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

1. First, allow me to congratulate you on your appointment as Chair of this Committee. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the appointment of the vice chairs of the workers' and employers' groups whom we look forward to working closely with over the next two weeks on this pressing issue.

2. The EU and its Member States would like to commend the Office for the comprehensive report that gives a very thorough overview of the many issues related to the care economy through the lens of decent work.

3. The report clearly positions the care economy within ongoing megatrends in the global world of work, including demographic shifts, climate change and technological developments. On top of that, labour shortages and the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic accentuated the need to put this topic on the agenda.

4. The full realization of the fundamental principles and rights at work is vital in ensuring decent work for workers in the care economy. Increased access to high-quality and affordable care services, adequate training, skills development, life-long learning, better working conditions, access to social protection, fair leave entitlements, pay and improved work-life balance for care workers are essential for a well-functioning society.

5. Moreover, the care economy is a key area to advance gender equality, equal sharing of care responsibilities and thereby increase female participation in the labour market.

6. The ILO plays a unique, normative role in promoting decent work, and the EU and its Member States are convinced that this should apply in the care economy, which we continue to stand ready to support.

7. We aim to contribute to action-oriented conclusions that should guide and encourage the ILO and its constituents in building robust and resilient care systems, promoting decent work in the care economy, achieving gender equality and non-discrimination, and raising awareness of the critical importance of care in economic development, social justice, and individual well-being.

8. We believe that the discussion could be further enriched by aligning it with the approach of the “human rights-based care and support systems”.  

9. Regarding discussion point 1, we want to underline that society and the economy depend on paid and unpaid care work to function and sustain human, social and economic development. We want to highlight the value of care, the need for access to affordable and quality care services with equal sharing of unpaid care between women and men and improved working conditions in the care economy. These are essential for boosting both women’s and men’s participation in the labour market, ensuring equal access to decent work and social protection and ultimately for achieving gender equality.

10. In many countries, there are sectors within the care economy which are defined by strong gender based segregation and challenging working conditions such as inadequate remuneration, violence and harassment in the workplace, high job strain, undeclared work and poor working conditions. As a result, workers are sometimes denied their basic labour and social protection rights, such as adequate rest periods or pension entitlements. Women in particular, are at risk of being confronted with these problems. Moreover, many of the care workers are migrant workers, who often face intersecting forms of discrimination and are among the most vulnerable in the labour market.
11. Investment in decent work in the care economy has the potential for a large return: leading to human capital increases, productivity growth, improved well-being, gender equality, better working conditions and a stronger female participation in the formal labour market.
12. Given the complex nature of the issue, we must be wary of adverse effects when designing policies that affect the care economy. For example, we need to ensure that care leave is taken up not only by women or high and middle-income households and be mindful not to create low-quality jobs in care or household assistance.
13. We want to stress the fundamental right to occupational safety and health of both paid and unpaid carers who are more exposed to physical and mental hazards. Mental health calls for specific attention given the increase in the number of persons with depression and burnout leading to long-term absence from work which puts a strain on our labour market.

14. Moreover, workers in the care economy are at risk of mental health issues, psychosocial risks and musculoskeletal disorders because it is often emotionally and physically intensive work. 

15. We also want to highlight the urgent need to tackle growing labour shortages in the care economy which threaten access to quality and affordable care services, working conditions of care workers and care service development, especially for small and medium-sized organizations. Decent working conditions, accessible training opportunities and sufficient remuneration are necessary to attract and retain workers.
16. The EU and its Member States agree that social dialogue, freedom of association and collective bargaining are the cornerstones of decent work, in particular for care workers. They are key for creating the conditions that uphold the rights of care workers and care recipients; and ensure care provision that promotes equality and inclusion.

17. We will do our best to effectively contribute, with all of you, to a common understanding of the care economy and to achieve ambitious and action-oriented conclusions.

Thank you Chair.

*North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.